Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree, How Lovely, Your Trunk! Part 2

Today, December 6th, is the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas, and a few of his representatives stopped by my armoire today for a quick convo.

(They can be seen in image one and their full story was featured on TLLG's FB Page this morning @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=585222898193754&set=a.355589574490422.73015.247917655257615&type=1.)

One of their talking points included the importance of reindeer, and reindeer were something that I discussed in my prior post here on HT.

The reindeer I discussed are very special as they are made from parts of Christmas trees which often get discarded by their sellers, parts such as twigs, branches and stubs from their "trunks," and I talked about a variety that I discovered in 2011 (photo-ops are included in the aforementioned entry).

And I ended that post by stating: "As for me, I still have the company of branch-and-trunk reindeer this season but mine are much smaller and from a different group of Christmas tree/wreath vendors who are also from Canada, and I'll tell you about them in Part Two of this series re the loveliness of Christmas Tree trunks."

So now, as promised I'd like to tell you a little bit about some other reindeer and the special people who make them. The artists (AKA Christmas Tree vendors) Stéphanie, and Sebastian that make these reindeer are also from Canada and they collaborate with Alex who is from Paris.

Like the reindeer that I discussed earlier today, these reindeer are also made from twigs, branches and stubs from their "trunks"; however, I find these to be much more whimsical as well as emotional due to their unique expressions which are whittled in such a way that each reindeer has his/her own personality!

This is a fact that you might surmise from photo-ops of the dear deer which can be found in image two (from 2012) as well as image three (taken of 2013 reindeer at Stéphanie, Sebastian and Alex's vending stand) which is a picture that was included in a posting (on Blogger) about the lessons folks can learn from reindeer and the entry can be found @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html

Besides being "green" (produced from natural materials that would be discarded), these deer have a long life because their antlers (as seen in images four and five) as well as their tails as sen in images (six and seven) are both made from fresh Christmas tree branches which can be replaced every year!

Even Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer is represented by the branch and trunk reindeer! This is evidenced in image eight (a group shot of him with Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blixen) where they posed in my armoire, and in image nine, I have a close-up of him taken in the same place.

However, for Stéphanie, Sebastian and Alex, the use of "tree parts" is not limited to making reindeer and this season they offered an array of menorahs (a few can be seen in picture ten) made from the same materials that they used to make their reindeer.

Moreover, the reindeer were pleased to help display the menorahs, as you might surmise from pictures eleven though sixteen.

Additionally these tree-artists use their materials to create holders for votive candles as well as snow-people. I am the grateful recipient of Stéphanie's first snowman and it can be seen in image seventeen, where her snowman is being admired by some reindeer in my armoire.

Word of talent travels fast among the cast of characters who are visiting my home for the Christmas season, and it wasn't too long before an entourage of snowmen came to admire Stéphanie's snowman (they can all be seen together in image eighteen.)

Moreover, close-ups of the snowmen admiring Stéphanie's creation can be found in images nineteen through twenty-four.

But, unlike the snowmen, I wasn't surprised at Stéphanie's ingenuity re creating a snowman and using string for his muffler, for last year she made Christmas balls, (admittedly without the use of tree parts) from materials one often has at hand.
Her 2012 Christmas ball can be seen in image twenty-five.

In any event. as you must know from this posting, the use of the re-puposed decor complements the use of a cast of characters (and vice-versa). And if you follow my HT postings (or any of my cyber venues) then you also know that employing casts of characters (as it is something I've included in a number of my HT entries) re providing ambience in one's succulent garden and throughout the home is something I find to be nurturing.

Readers have asked me where they might procure the whimsical character-driven figurines. Most of the non-re-purposed figurines, as is the case with the majority of figurines that I've included in previous posts, are available by contacting Steve Mohr of More and More Antiques at 212-580-8404.

As for the reindeer, menorahs, and snowmen made of "tree parts", from now through Christmas you can find them at Stéphanie, Sebastien and Alex's vending spot at the northwest corner of 88th Street and Broadway.

Their "store-front" may be a street corner, but they have decorated it with a number of artifacts (which can be seen in images twenty-six through thirty) and, in addition to the items that they craft, trees, garland as well as wreaths are available and they do deliver!

Therefore between the findings at More and More Antiques as well as the findings at the vending station of Stéphanie, Sebastien and Alex, it should be easy to have yourself a merry little holiday season.
Representatives of Saint Nichols Having a Convo. INFO @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=585222898193754&set=a.355589574490422.73015.247917655257615&type=1
A reindeer visiting my home in 2012. Image INFO @ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=435570323159013&set=pb.247917655257615.-2207520000.1386418061.&type=3&theater
Three of many Reindeer posing at a NYC UWS street corner! INFO @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Antlers Detail (View One) of a deer made from "Christmas Tree Parts" as mentioned @ http://www.pinterest.com/thellgardener/home-for-the-holidays/
Antlers Detail (View Two) of a deer made from "Christmas Tree Parts" as mentioned @ http://www.pinterest.com/thellgardener/home-for-the-holidays/
Tail Detail (View One) of a deer made from "Christmas Tree Parts" as mentioned @ http://www.pinterest.com/thellgardener/home-for-the-holidays/
Tail Detail (View Two) of a deer made from "Christmas Tree Parts" as mentioned @ http://www.pinterest.com/thellgardener/home-for-the-holidays/
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blixen ADMIRE Rudolph IN MY ARMOIRE! Full Story @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
After being welcomed to my armoire by his comrades, Rudolph gets a close-up! INFO @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Menorahs made from "tree parts" by the "reindeer artists" I've featured on Blogger @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
A lone reindeer admires menorahs (View One.) All "objects" were made by the "reindeer artists" featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.htmlhttp://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-
A lone reindeer admires menorahs (View Two.) All "objects" were made by the "reindeer artists" featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.htmlhttp://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-
A lone reindeer admires menorahs (View Three.) All "objects" were made by the "reindeer artists" featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.htmlhttp://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-
A lone reindeer admires menorahs (View Four.) All "objects" were made by the "reindeer artists" featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.htmlhttp://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-
A lone reindeer admires menorahs (View Five.) All "objects" were made by the "reindeer artists" featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.htmlhttp://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-
A lone reindeer admires menorahs (View Six.) All "objects" were made by the "reindeer artists" featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.htmlhttp://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-
Snowman and reindeer made by one of the artists featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Large Snowman (and HIS ADMIRERS) made by one of the artists featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Close up of one of the snowmen who is admiring the large snowman made by the artist featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Close up of another one of the snowmen who is admiring the large snowman made by the artist featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Close up of yet another one of the snowmen who is admiring the large snowman made by the artist featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Close up of yet another one of the snowmen (sitting by a fire) who is admiring the large snowman made by the artist featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Close up of yet another one of the snowmen (waving) who is admiring the large snowman made by the artist featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Close up of yet another one of the snowmen (chillin' and grilin') who is admiring the large snowman made by the artist featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
A "homemade ball" hangs in the doorway leading into my apartment from my garden. It was created by the one of the artists featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Store-front View (one) of the "tree parts" artist who were featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Store-front View (two) of the "tree parts" artist who were featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Store-front View (three) of the "tree parts" artist who were featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Store-front View (four) of the "tree parts" artist who were featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
Store-front View (five) of the "tree parts" artist who were featured @ http://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2013/12/a-lesson-from-reindeer.html
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 2 comments
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Dec 07, 2013
    The reindeer and snow people are adorable.
    • TheLastLeafGardener TheLastLeafGardener on Dec 08, 2013
      @Douglas Hunt Thanks, Douglas! As you may recall from having lived in NYC, at this time of (on nearly every street corner) someone is selling Christmas trees. I was so impressed when I discovered certain sellers making things from what normally gets discarded by using "scraps" from the trees they sell. They call their creations green gifts! These folks literally whittle away their time in between tree sales! The people that I support have an "assembly line" system: one whittles the faces, one assembles the legs and drills holes for the antlers as well as for the tails and one adds the branches as antlers and tails. Upon my seeing all the sweet faces of these deer a they lined awaiting their antlers and tails, I thought of the "I Love Lucy" chocolate factory episode (-;
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